April 22, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode, Dr. Alfred Alessi and Matt Tack explore the crucial topic of gut health, introducing the Alessi Total Care Program. They provide an overview of gut health and its significance, delving into the anatomy, function, and the intricate gut-brain axis. The discussion highlights common symptoms and patterns of gut dysfunction, followed by an examination of diagnostic tests for identifying gut issues. Dr. Alessi presents the five R protocol as an effective approach to healing the gut. The episode concludes with engaging listener feedback and closing remarks, offering a comprehensive understanding of maintaining gut health.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
It's ground zero.
(00:01):
It's not just where food goes to get digestion.
It's it's ground zero for immune activity,inflammation control, nutrient absorption.
Right?
When gut function breaks down, it's not justyour digestion that suffers, it's your brain,
your skin, your hormones, energy.
They all take a hit.
Welcome to Health Decode, your number onesource for real health information with your
(00:22):
host, doctor Alessi and Matt Tack.
Hey Health Decoded listeners.
Doctor.
Alessi here.
Let me ask you a serious question.
Are you tired of waiting until something goeswrong to finally see a doctor?
At Alessi Functional Health, we take adifferent approach.
The right approach.
(00:43):
We believe true healthcare isn't about chasingsymptoms, it's about preventing them in the
first place.
That's why we created the Alessi Total CareProgram.
This is a functional medicine based membershipthat gives you proactive, proactive,
personalized care year round.
You'll get access to comprehensive blood workand functional testing, custom doctor grade
(01:05):
nutraceuticals, deep discounts on labs,protocols, and follow ups, as well as twenty
four seven direct access to your doctor, notjust a ten minute checkup that ends with
another prescription.
And here's the best part.
As a Health Decoded listener, you'll get yourfirst three months completely free when you
(01:26):
sign up for an annual membership.
That's on top of hundreds in savings alreadybuilt into the program.
This is your chance to take responsibility foryour health and join a movement that's
redefining what primary care should look like.
Head on over to alessifunctionalhealth.com,click on our services tab, and go to Total
Care.
Learn more about this program and claim yourexclusive podcast listener offer.
(01:51):
Your health is your greatest asset.
Let's protect it proactively.
Welcome back to another episode of HealthDecoded.
I am your host, doctor Alessi.
And your cohost, Matt Tack.
Matt Tack.
What's going on, brother?
Man, a lot of really good things.
(02:13):
Excited to dive into this episode, on guthealth and, protecting my gut at the end of the
day.
I know that's, one of the most important thingsyou can do for your body.
But what's been new with you?
Not much, man.
We're just getting very busy with the clinicand the new things we're adding.
So it's almost like one of those things whereevery day that we're building out new systems,
(02:36):
then another thing comes up that I was like,oh, we should do this.
It's like, oh, we should add this.
So I feel like we're I don't want to say likebehind on stuff, but it's like always like
we're never caught up.
And I think that's just the nature of having somany things going on, but it's all good stuff.
So nothing to complain about obviously.
Yeah.
It's the nature of the vision.
That's right, man.
I always love these mornings where we get tosit down and chat and just kind of give some
(02:59):
value to the listeners here and to ourcommunity.
And, you know, specifically today, we this onewas something that we talked about wanting to
to get some real nitty gritty on gut health inparticular.
We addressed this in a lot of the past episodesin other ways, but more on like a surface
level.
So we're going to get into it today.
And so this is going to be a good topic that Ithink people are going to get a lot of value
(03:23):
out.
So you know, if gut health is something you'reinterested in learning more about, if you have
gut issues or know someone who has listened tothis episode, I think it's going to really
change your perspective as well as give yousome actionable things that you can do to
improve your gut.
Yeah.
Well, let's jump right in.
(03:43):
And the question is then, what is the gut?
Really?
And here it is.
Your gut isn't just a digestive pipe.
It's an highly intelligent dynamic ecosystemspanning about 30 feet in length.
It includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach,small and large intestines, pancreas, liver,
and your gallbladder.
(04:05):
But the true star of the show, the gutmicrobiome, a complex community of over a
hundred million microorganisms, includingbacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea.
So together, these microbes form a symbioticrelationship with us, meaning they rely on us
for nutrients and we rely on them foreverything from digestion to immune system.
(04:30):
So, let's go ahead and break this down a littlebit further.
The small intestine, specifically the ileum, ismost nutrients absorb occurs, right?
And it's lined with villi and microvilli, tinyfinger like projections that increase surface
area and interact directly with food andmicrobes.
(04:52):
So the large intestine, the colon, houses themajority of your microbes who ferment fibers
into beneficial short chain fatty acids, likebutyrate, which help reduce inflammation and
feed the cell lining in your colon.
The enteric nervous system, often called thesecond brain, contains over 100,000,000
neurons, more than the spinal cord itself.
(05:15):
This system allows the gut to function semiindependently from the brain and even produce
its own neurotransmitters.
Now here's why it's so important and some keystats.
So 70 to 80% of the immune system is located inthe gut, particularly within gut associated
lymphoid tissue, G A L T.
(05:36):
This immune tissue is constantly sampling food,microbes, and toxins to determine what's friend
or foe.
So your microbiome influences over 90% of yourserotonin production, one of your most
important mood regulating neurotransmitters.
There are more microbial genes in your bodythan human genes.
(06:00):
And get this.
So in fact, your microbiome outnumbers yourhuman DNA by 150 to one in terms of gene count.
That's how influential it is.
So another key function in the gut is the gutbrain access.
(06:21):
Now here it is.
The gut brain access is a bi directionalcommunication network lining the emotional and
cognitive centers of the brain with the entericnervous system.
This communication occurs via number one, thevagus nerve, which is your cranial nerve 10,
your cytokines, which are the inflammatorymessengers that respond to infection,
(06:44):
neurotransmitters like GABA, serotonin, anddopamine that signal the brain in the microbial
byproducts like short chain fatty acids.
So here's what's fascinating, is that the gutsends more signals to the brain than the brain
sends to the gut.
Meaning how you feel mentally can often betraced back to what's going on in your gut and
(07:08):
why it is truly your second brain.
Here's a quote from Nature Reviews Immunologyin 2020: Disruptions in gut microbiota are
associated with inflammatory and autoimmuneconditions.
So, let's get to the fun part.
Here's a fun fact that you may not know (07:26):
Your body has over 30,000,000,000,000 human cells,
but you carry an estimated 39,000,000,000,000bacterial cells.
In other words, you are more bacteria than evenhuman.
So another amazing thing you need to know aboutyour gut is the gut barrier.
(07:47):
The lining of the gut is only one cell layerthick, About the width of a human hair.
It's designed to be selectively permeable,letting in nutrients while keeping pathogens
and toxins out.
But when this lining is damaged due toinflammation, stress, poor diet, it becomes
leaky, allowing harmful substances to enteryour bloodstream, triggering inflammation and
(08:12):
autoimmune responses system wide.
We've discussed this in previous episodes, buthere's the takeaway.
If your gut is inflamed, your whole body isinflamed.
That's why gut health is starting the startingpoint for fixing everything else.
Energy, mood, hormones, immune function, skin,metabolism, everything lies, ties back to
(08:34):
health and the balance of your microbiome.
Yeah, man.
That's such a good overview of the gut.
And you know, now it's like, okay, now we knowwhat it is, right?
And listeners have an idea.
Now, how do we know if there's something wrong?
That's always the next question.
So let's get into like, how do you know if youhave some kind of gut issue or problem with
your gut?
(08:54):
And really it's going to be the symptoms.
So one of the most overlooked truths inmedicine is really that if your symptoms are
happening everywhere, you need to start withyour gut.
That's just what we talked about.
It's ground zero.
It's not just where food goes to get digestion.
It's ground zero for immune activity,inflammation control, nutrient absorption,
right?
When gut function breaks down, it's not justyour digestion that suffers, it's your brain,
(09:18):
your skin, your hormones, energy, they all takea hit.
So, let's talk about what are some of thecommon symptoms of gut dysfunction and what you
should be on the lookout for.
So, most people assume gut issues are going toequal things like gas, bloating, or IBS.
And while this is true, the signs also go muchdeeper and they can show up in places you
(09:40):
wouldn't expect.
So, some of the digestive symptoms that you'regoing to experience would be bloating,
belching, gas, constipation or diarrhea, andeven reflux.
However, deeper symptoms that could associatewith gut dysfunction that people might not
expect are things like cognitive and moodsymptoms.
So, brain fog and fatigue, poor memory, anxietyand depression.
(10:05):
Oftentimes skin symptoms are a big indicator ofgut dysfunction.
Things like acne, eczema, psoriasis or rosacea,which is basically red coloring.
And then immune and hormone dysregulation.
Things like Hashimoto's, rheumatoid arthritis,these are autoimmune conditions.
Infertility, weight gain, and PMS, these canall be linked back to the gut.
(10:28):
So the connection is when your gut is inflamed,your immune system becomes overactive leading
to systemic inflammation and autoimmune risk.
So now let's talk about the big four gutdysfunction patterns, what they are and then
how they show up.
So number one, and this is something we see alot in our clinic and we treat a lot of
patients for is leaky gut or intestinalpermeability, right?
(10:53):
And you just talked about how the gut lining isjust one cell layer thick.
It's very skinny and it allows for certainthings to come in and then other things to not
come in.
It's selectively permeable.
So normally your gut lining is a tightly sealedbarrier made of those epithelial cells linked
together by what are called tight junctions.
(11:13):
But when it gets inflamed, those tightjunctions can loosen creating microscopic holes
that now allow toxins, bacteria, and undigestedfood particles into the bloodstream.
This triggers activation of the immune systemand can lead to autoimmune conditions, things
like Hashimoto's, lupus, or rheumatoidarthritis.
(11:33):
It also can lead to brain inflammation, whichwill obviously manifest such as mood disorders
and anxiety.
And it can lead to worsening of foodsensitivities.
So as the body starts to mount responses tothose food particles, it's going to increase
those sensitivities as well.
Some of the more common triggers for this aregoing to be things like gluten, alcohol, non
(11:55):
steroidal anti inflammatories like ibuprofen.
Stress is a big one.
Processed foods and antibiotics.
So there was a study done in clinical reviewsin allergy and immunology in 2019, which
basically said increased intestinalpermeability is directly linked autoimmune
disease, IBS and chronic fatigue.
(12:18):
So basically proven that when you're havingthis intestinal permeability, are going be at
more risk for those things.
So the next one is SIBO, which stands for smallintestinal bacterial overgrowth.
So SIBO occurs when bacteria that should stayin the large intestine overgrows back into the
small intestine.
(12:38):
The small intestine is where nutrientabsorption takes place.
And so, what happens is those bacteria start toferment your food too early, which will often
look like gas and bloating, especially aftereating carbohydrates or fibers.
This can then lead to nutrient malabsorption.
Malabsorption of things like B12 and iron.
(12:59):
And so, if those are often low on blood workassociated with gut issues, we're thinking
things like SIBO.
This can also manifest like constipation ordiarrhea.
And then obviously intolerance to fiber andprebiotics because of that symptom associated
with digesting those things.
So, SIBO is often a hidden cause of IBS inabout seventy percent of cases.
(13:22):
And it's often overlooked because why?
Well, Western medicine doctors often don't evenrecognize it.
They don't consider it an actual thing.
And so, you know, it's already, that's theconfusing part is that it's shown to have been
proven as this is real.
People deal with this all the time.
This is something we help people with all thetime.
However, there's just this disconnect betweenWestern medicine and functional medicine.
(13:45):
And so next on the list here is Candidaovergrowth.
What Candida is, is a yeast that is naturallyexisting in the gut, but when it overgrows,
usually due to excess sugar intake orantibiotics or even low stomach acid, it's
going to cause you to crave sugar.
It's going to cause fatigue, brain fog, andthen you can even get this what's called oral
(14:06):
thrush or basically like a white coating onyour tongue and that's the yeast forming.
And so then this also can manifest likerecurring yeast infections.
So Candida can worsen leaky gut symptoms andthen it can down regulate your immune system as
well.
And then number four on this list is one that'smaybe more obscure, but also more common than
(14:27):
people think.
And this is parasite infections.
It's not just a third world problem anymore.
Parasites can easily be picked up from thingslike undercooked food, contaminated water, or
if you're traveling abroad.
But also from things that are close to homelike having pets in the home, right?
If the pets are outside in the dirt and they'reeating things and then they're not properly
(14:48):
cleaned that hygiene, right?
And so once inside the parasites can hijackyour nutrients and they can start to pre digest
food that your body should be digesting.
This can cause inflammation and it can damageyour gut lining as well.
Some major symptoms are going to look likechronic bloating and diarrhea, night sweats,
things like nutrient deficiencies, anemia andweight loss.
(15:12):
And then obviously persistent fatigue as well.
Like your body is trying to get the nutritionand energy it needs, but it can't because it's
being hijacked.
And so remember the mind body connection thatMatt just talked about.
When you have a disrupted gut microbiome, itcan alter the gut brain axis as well, which
contributes to those mood disorders.
Studies show that patients with depression,anxiety, chronic fatigue often have elevated
(15:37):
markers of leaky gut and inflammation in thebloodstream.
So essentially, inflammation in the gut isgoing to directly equal inflammation in the
brain.
The two go hand in hand.
So what's the takeaway here?
If you have symptoms that are scattered,fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, skin rashes,
hormonal imbalance, you don't want to gochasing each one of these individually with a
(15:59):
different thing, right?
People often just throw some cream on aneczema.
They start taking some SSRIs for anxiety anddepression.
But often they're linked to your gut.
So that's where you want to start.
So it's not just about what you eat, but it'sabout what you absorb and what your microbiome
then does with it.
So healing the gut will create a ripple effectthroughout the body.
(16:19):
And that's really our approach at AlessiFunctional Health is getting to the root cause.
So now let's do this.
Let's talk about what specific tests we can useto get to the bottom of your symptoms and then
ultimately heal them for good.
But real quick, before Matt gets into that,let's take a quick word from one of our
sponsors.
This episode of Health Decoded is brought toyou by Authentic Nutrition, the brand
(16:45):
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Now back to the episode.
And welcome back.
So here we go.
How to test your gut and stop all theguesswork.
You can't fix what you don't measure.
While symptoms give us clues, advanced guttesting gives us the actual blueprint of what's
(18:17):
going wrong inside your digestive system.
Without it, you're guessing, and guessing leadsto wasted time, money, and frustration.
Think of it like this (18:26):
If your car starts making some strange noises, would you guess
what's wrong?
Or plug it into a diagnostic system?
Or take it to a mechanic, right?
Let's break down the most accurate, functional,clinical, useful tests that provide real
answers, not just the labels.
One.
(18:48):
Comprehensive stool test.
This is the gold standard for analyzing yourentire digestive ecosystem.
A high quality test like the ones we use atAlessi Functional Health evaluate these
different factors.
Number one, bacterial balance, both good andharmful strains.
Opportunistic pathogens.
(19:11):
E.
Coli, cholesterol, three.
Yeast and fungal overgrowth Parasites Digestivecapacity Immune markers Inflammation markers So
(19:36):
what these tests tell us, whether yourmicrobiome is inflamed, if you're absorbing
nutrients, and if there's something foreigncausing damage like parasites or even yeast.
So here's a quote from Frontiers ofMicrobiology in 2021 that said, stool DNA tests
(19:58):
are a reliable method to evaluate microbiotadiversity and pathogenic overgrowth.
So here we go into a second test, zonulin orlactulose mannitol test, which is your leaky
gut panel.
And these are functional markers of intestinalpermeability.
(20:20):
So, as Doctor.
Alessi mentioned, that small, skinny, hair likefeature that is our gut, right?
So, zonulin is a protein that regulates tightjunctions in your gut lining.
Evaluating zonulin equals likely a leaky gut.
(20:41):
Lactulose mannitol test involves drinkingsugars and measuring their appearance and
urine.
If large sugars appear, your gut lining is tooporous.
These tests are essential if you have: Autoimmunity Food sensitivities Brain fog or (20:53):
undefined
fatigue after eating, and chronic joint pain orskin flares.
Here we go with another one and our third one,a food sensitivity testing.
(21:13):
So these panels, unlike true unlike true foodallergies, which are IgE responses, these tests
are look at delayed immune responses.
When your gut barrier is compromised, the foodproteins leak into your bloodstream and trigger
immune functions hours or even days later.
(21:35):
The most common reactive foods are number one,gluten, Number two, dairy.
Number three, eggs.
Number four, soy.
And number five, corn.
So here's a tip.
Elimination diets work but often take months orlonger, and this test can fast track what to
remove and for how long.
(21:57):
Here's another test, DUTCH or the organic acidtesting.
Well, not direct gut tests, but both can revealsecondary signs of gut dysfunction.
Organic acid test, also known as oat, showsyeast and fungal overgrowth bacterial
fermentation markers, and nutrient deficienciescaused by dysbiosis.
(22:19):
Your Dutch hormone test, the measurablecortisol, chronic stress weakens the gut
lining, and estrogen metabolism is gut healtheffects, estrogen clearance.
So you want those two to level out.
These are especially helpful if symptoms gobeyond digestion, like fatigue, hormonal
imbalance, or even mood changes if you'reseeing those.
(22:42):
And here's why all this matters, right?
So most people go years treating surfacesymptoms, gas, acne, fatigue with over the
counter meds or diets, never realizing theirmicrobiome imbalance at the root.
And a single round of antibiotics or chronicstress can disrupt your microbiome for months
(23:05):
or even years.
So testing allows you to do three things: identify which bacteria are missing or (23:07):
undefined
overgrown, see if you have leaky gut orinflammation, and then tailor your nutrition
and supplementation based on your biology.
So here's the takeaway.
Don't guess, test.
(23:28):
So whether it's SIBO, candida, parasites, orpermeability, gut dysfunction is measurable at
its core.
And it's fixable.
A simple 300 to $500 test may save youthousands of dollars in supplements, wasted
doctor visits, and years of trial and airdiets.
(23:48):
You can't heal what you can't see.
So testing gives you the roadmap and not justthe symptom list.
Nice, man.
Yeah.
And that's you basically just named kind ofwhat we do as far as testing in in the clinic
at Alessi Functional Health.
We often start with symptoms.
Okay, what are the symptoms that'll tailor ustowards what tests we're going to use?
(24:09):
And then usually it looks like starting withthe leaky gut and food sensitivity test, those
are the first two most people are going to do.
And then if there's more in-depth, then yes,we'll run a gut gut stool test.
And then on the back end of that, if we needto, if there's more of the hormonal factor,
we'll run the Dutch or the OAT test.
So we have all these different things at ourdisposal, like you said, to really test it
(24:31):
rather than like, I'm going try a bunch ofstuff and see if it works.
I'm going try a bunch of stuff and see if itworks.
And then you're years down the line and nothinghas changed.
It's like, no, let's just get to the bottom ofit right away.
It's quick, it's easy, and now we know.
And so now we know what to look for, what wecan do to test for.
Now let's talk about how we fix it, right?
How do we heal the gut?
(24:52):
And so, basically I'm going take you guysthrough kind of our protocol.
But the thing to know is that the gut can heal,it just takes a plan, not just the guesswork.
And so the most effective functional medicineapproach to restoring gut health is really what
we use called the five R protocol.
And so this is a clinically proven framework.
It's helped thousands of patients overcomeeverything from IBS to autoimmune conditions,
(25:17):
chronic fatigue.
And basically think of it as like a systematicgut renovation.
Tearing down the bad, rebuilding the good, andthen stabilizing for long term.
And so what the five R gut protocol looks like,this is the exact protocol we use at Alessi
Functional Health to help hundreds of peoplerestore their gut to health.
So number one, the first R is remove.
(25:40):
So here's where you have to eliminate what'sdamaging your gut in the first place.
Things like inflammatory foods, gluten, dairy,processed sugars, seed oils, artificial
sweeteners, any foods that would have beenelevated IGE or IGG on a food sensitivity test.
Things like pathogens, bacteria, parasites,yeast and mold, all identified through testing.
(26:04):
We need to remove these.
And then a non negotiable with any patient wework with is removing alcohol and then
obviously those over the counter NSAID drugs.
As well as helping them to avoid certainenvironmental toxins that maybe they're putting
on their body through skin creams or in theirhome.
So, you can start with like a thirty dayelimination diet, cutting out those common
(26:27):
triggers, watching for your symptomimprovements like less bloating, clear skin,
better sleep, reduced joint pain.
And kind of a tip to that is making sure you'rereading labels, right?
Gluten and sugar are hiding everywhere.
In condiments, in healthy bars, protein bars.
These companies want to sneak these things inthere because they're cheaper and they can
(26:47):
increase the value of that product, but it'sultimately not healthy even if it says healthy
on on the label.
So then the second R in the five R's is to nowreplace.
So now you're going to start supporting yourdigestive capacity.
So if you're bloated after meals and haveundigested food in your stool or you feel full
real quickly, you may not be producing enoughstomach acid or digestive enzymes.
(27:11):
This is often where we start with the supportof the digestion.
We use things like HCL, which is a crucialstomach acid for protein breakdown and killing
pathogens.
Support with digestive enzymes to help absorbthe fats, carbs and proteins that you eat.
As well as things like bile salts to supportthat fat digestion as well as detox through the
(27:33):
gallbladder.
And so some symptoms of low stomach acid arethings like burping or bloating after meals,
acid reflux, and then craving protein.
Now, what we often see and what I see a ton issomeone presents with reflux to their primary
care doc or their medical doc, and the doc putsthem on like a proton pump inhibitor or like a
(27:56):
Nexium to lower the acid when the problem isnot low acid or the problem is not high acid,
it's low acid.
And they're getting those symptoms because thefood is not being broken down and it's starting
to ferment and sit in the stomach before goinginto the small intestine and that's causing a
reflux, that's causing inflammation.
So then they go throwing a proton pumpinhibitor on top of that and actually worsens
(28:19):
the problem and starts to make the person verysick.
And so usually someone comes in with that, Isay, okay, we're going to stop the proton pump
inhibitor for a week.
We're going to do what's called a baking sodatest.
Very simple free test you can do at home.
You take a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, youput it in four ounces of water, first thing in
the morning empty stomach and you drink it.
(28:39):
You should burp within two to three minutes.
Now, if you don't, that means you have lowstomach acid and you're not getting that
bicarbonate reaction that causes gas.
So that's an easy test and it's free and we dothat for pretty much everyone who is on a
proton pump inhibitor.
And so then what's our number three, right?
(29:01):
We went through remove, replace.
Now we need to re inoculate the gut.
So we're going to start restoring healthybacteria.
So once the gut has been cleaned out, there'ssome fasting involved in this protocol as well
to give the gut time to heal.
It's time to now repopulate the beneficialmicrobes.
So we're going to use things like probiotics,obviously high colony multi strains,
(29:23):
lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, these are theones that we use to re inoculate the gut.
And then if we did a gut test and we foundthere was a exorbitantly low in one area, we're
going to obviously pump that up.
And then we're going to use things likeprebiotics as well to feed those probiotics.
Fibers like inulin, oligosaccharides, andresistant starch, they're going to feed this
(29:45):
good bacteria.
And then, you know, using foods as well.
We're all about functional foods like fermentedveggies, kefir, and then, you know, like
artichoke and green banana.
Obviously, we would avoid the yogurt if someoneis dairy intolerant.
And so just real quick, kind of to the point,there's targeted probiotics are going to reduce
(30:05):
leaky gut and systemic inflammation in justfour weeks.
This has been proven in the journal GutMicrobes in 2022.
And so we always start slow with the probioticsand prebiotics.
Some people need to obviously address SIBO orCandida before they really start reinoculating
aggressively or else you're just going torefeed that whole process.
(30:27):
And so now number four is repair.
So now that we've got it healed andreinoculated, we're going to rebuild the gut
lining, right?
If you have that leaky gut and that damaged gutlining, we can use certain things like L
glutamine, which is basically gonna fuel thoseenterocytes, which are the gut cells.
Zinc carnosine heals ulcers and tightens thosejunctions.
(30:49):
Collagen and bone broth are rich in glycine andproline, which is used for tissue repair.
And then things like aloe vera and deglycinatedlicorice are going to basically soothe
inflammation, but they can also increase themucosal lining of the gut.
So here's a tip is drinking warm bone brothdaily or taking collagen peptides in smoothies,
(31:09):
right?
Those are easy ways to get those in.
And then the biggest thing is still avoidingalcohol, the NSAIDs which break down and then
processed junk food, which this breaks down thegut lining faster than you can repair it.
Right?
So you're not going to go trying to put out afire and then be fueling a fire here.
Right?
Makes no sense.
And then so the fifth r and the final one isrebalance.
(31:31):
Right?
So we align the lifestyle with the gut healing.
Your gut doesn't heal in isolation.
Your nervous system, your circadian rhythm,these all play a huge role.
So chronic stress and that elevated cortisolwill just return that leaky gut because it's
going to keep breaking things down.
So, we always incorporate lifestyle medicineinto our functional medicine practices.
(31:54):
Rebalancing practices look like daily breathwork and meditation, five to ten minutes a day.
Making sure you're going to bed and waking upat consistent times, balancing that circadian
rhythm.
Sunlight in the morning, reducing blue light.
And then regular moderate exercise, the zonetwo cardio that Matt always talks about is how
you're going to really get your body into acalmed balanced nervous system state.
(32:18):
And then strength training as well.
And so sleep is really non negotiable whenworking with gut dysfunction because deep sleep
is when those gut lining repairs and bacterialrebalancing happens most.
So real quick, just some supplements toconsider.
L glutamine for repairing the gut lining, zinccarnosine healing and soothing the
(32:40):
inflammation, a probiotic recolonizesbeneficial bacteria, and then the enzymes for
supporting nutrient absorption.
So, we always like to give some real practicaltips that we want to leave you guys with.
So, the things you can implement today andstart with would be things like cutting gluten,
dairy, and sugar, and alcohol for thirty days.
(33:01):
And see how much better you feel, right?
That will tell you if there's something goingon.
Adding fermented foods three to four times aweek.
Caveat here is if that makes you feel worse,more than likely a SIBO kind of overgrowth.
Bone broth or collagen powder in smoothies.
Supporting sleep and stress management.
And then professional grade probiotics withhigh colony counts, 20 to 50,000,000,000.
(33:26):
And so the takeaway, right?
You can heal your gut, but not with halfmeasures.
It's not just about taking a probiotic, it'sabout consistently layering in the right foods,
supplements, and habits, but in a strategicorder.
The five R's are the blueprint to rebuild thegut, and then in turn, rebuild your brain
immunity, energy and overall health.
(33:48):
When you do it correctly and in the properorder, this can be a permanent solution.
That being said, this is a complicated strategyand often difficult for people to implement on
their own without guidance.
So, we always suggest working with a qualifiedfunctional medicine doctor who has experience
with treating gut issues.
So, we want to thank you guys for joining us.
(34:09):
We hope this was valuable.
If you want to learn more about functionalmedicine and the programs that can help you
improve the health of your gut, go toalessifunctionalhealth.com, schedule a
consultation with myself or one of my teammembers, and let's create a personalized plan
for your gut health.
Listeners of the Health Decoded podcast alwaysget exclusive discounts and price reductions on
(34:32):
all of our protocols and our lab tests.
And as always, if you found today's show,please, please like, subscribe, and share this
episode with someone who needs to hear it.
That's how we grow this message and change morelives.
So and wanna get in touch with us or befeatured on an episode, email us at
ask@AlessiFXHealth.com.
(34:53):
And then as always, as doctor Alessi said, youcan visit us at AlessiFXHealth.com, sign up for
a newsletter, and check resource pages to learnmore about our approach to nutrition and
cutting edge therapies.
Thank you again for tuning in to HealthDecoded, where we are breaking down the
science, busting the myths, and helping youtake control of your health naturally.
(35:15):
Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered,and remember your health is in your hands.
Thank you for tuning in to Health Decoded,where we break down the truth about all things
health and empower you to take charge of yourwell-being.
If you found value in today's episode, pleasesubscribe, leave a review, and share it with
(35:36):
someone who needs to hear this.
For more resources and personalized support,visit us at AlessiFunctionalHealth.com and sign
up for our newsletter.
To hear your questions answered live on theshow, send them to ask@AlessiFXHealth.com.
That's ask@alessifxhealth.com.
(35:57):
Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered,and remember, your health is in your hands.
It's ground zero.
(00:01):
It's not just where food goes to get digestion.
It's it's ground zero for immune activity,inflammation control, nutrient absorption.
Right?
When gut function breaks down, it's not justyour digestion that suffers, it's your brain,
your skin, your hormones, energy.
They all take a hit.
Welcome to Health Decode, your number onesource for real health information with your
(00:22):
host, doctor Alessi and Matt Tack.
Hey Health Decoded listeners.
Doctor.
Alessi here.
Let me ask you a serious question.
Are you tired of waiting until something goeswrong to finally see a doctor?
At Alessi Functional Health, we take adifferent approach.
The right approach.
(00:43):
We believe true healthcare isn't about chasingsymptoms, it's about preventing them in the
first place.
That's why we created the Alessi Total CareProgram.
This is a functional medicine based membershipthat gives you proactive, proactive,
personalized care year round.
You'll get access to comprehensive blood workand functional testing, custom doctor grade
(01:05):
nutraceuticals, deep discounts on labs,protocols, and follow ups, as well as twenty
four seven direct access to your doctor, notjust a ten minute checkup that ends with
another prescription.
And here's the best part.
As a Health Decoded listener, you'll get yourfirst three months completely free when you
(01:26):
sign up for an annual membership.
That's on top of hundreds in savings alreadybuilt into the program.
This is your chance to take responsibility foryour health and join a movement that's
redefining what primary care should look like.
Head on over to alessifunctionalhealth.com,click on our services tab, and go to Total
Care.
Learn more about this program and claim yourexclusive podcast listener offer.
(01:51):
Your health is your greatest asset.
Let's protect it proactively.
Welcome back to another episode of HealthDecoded.
I am your host, doctor Alessi.
And your cohost, Matt Tack.
Matt Tack.
What's going on, brother?
Man, a lot of really good things.
(02:13):
Excited to dive into this episode, on guthealth and, protecting my gut at the end of the
day.
I know that's, one of the most important thingsyou can do for your body.
But what's been new with you?
Not much, man.
We're just getting very busy with the clinicand the new things we're adding.
So it's almost like one of those things whereevery day that we're building out new systems,
(02:36):
then another thing comes up that I was like,oh, we should do this.
It's like, oh, we should add this.
So I feel like we're I don't want to say likebehind on stuff, but it's like always like
we're never caught up.
And I think that's just the nature of having somany things going on, but it's all good stuff.
So nothing to complain about obviously.
Yeah.
It's the nature of the vision.
That's right, man.
I always love these mornings where we get tosit down and chat and just kind of give some
(02:59):
value to the listeners here and to ourcommunity.
And, you know, specifically today, we this onewas something that we talked about wanting to
to get some real nitty gritty on gut health inparticular.
We addressed this in a lot of the past episodesin other ways, but more on like a surface
level.
So we're going to get into it today.
And so this is going to be a good topic that Ithink people are going to get a lot of value
(03:23):
out.
So you know, if gut health is something you'reinterested in learning more about, if you have
gut issues or know someone who has listened tothis episode, I think it's going to really
change your perspective as well as give yousome actionable things that you can do to
improve your gut.
Yeah.
Well, let's jump right in.
(03:43):
And the question is then, what is the gut?
Really?
And here it is.
Your gut isn't just a digestive pipe.
It's an highly intelligent dynamic ecosystemspanning about 30 feet in length.
It includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach,small and large intestines, pancreas, liver,
and your gallbladder.
(04:05):
But the true star of the show, the gutmicrobiome, a complex community of over a
hundred million microorganisms, includingbacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea.
So together, these microbes form a symbioticrelationship with us, meaning they rely on us
for nutrients and we rely on them foreverything from digestion to immune system.
(04:30):
So, let's go ahead and break this down a littlebit further.
The small intestine, specifically the ileum, ismost nutrients absorb occurs, right?
And it's lined with villi and microvilli, tinyfinger like projections that increase surface
area and interact directly with food andmicrobes.
(04:52):
So the large intestine, the colon, houses themajority of your microbes who ferment fibers
into beneficial short chain fatty acids, likebutyrate, which help reduce inflammation and
feed the cell lining in your colon.
The enteric nervous system, often called thesecond brain, contains over 100,000,000
neurons, more than the spinal cord itself.
(05:15):
This system allows the gut to function semiindependently from the brain and even produce
its own neurotransmitters.
Now here's why it's so important and some keystats.
So 70 to 80% of the immune system is located inthe gut, particularly within gut associated
lymphoid tissue, G A L T.
(05:36):
This immune tissue is constantly sampling food,microbes, and toxins to determine what's friend
or foe.
So your microbiome influences over 90% of yourserotonin production, one of your most
important mood regulating neurotransmitters.
There are more microbial genes in your bodythan human genes.
(06:00):
And get this.
So in fact, your microbiome outnumbers yourhuman DNA by 150 to one in terms of gene count.
That's how influential it is.
So another key function in the gut is the gutbrain access.
(06:21):
Now here it is.
The gut brain access is a bi directionalcommunication network lining the emotional and
cognitive centers of the brain with the entericnervous system.
This communication occurs via number one, thevagus nerve, which is your cranial nerve 10,
your cytokines, which are the inflammatorymessengers that respond to infection,
(06:44):
neurotransmitters like GABA, serotonin, anddopamine that signal the brain in the microbial
byproducts like short chain fatty acids.
So here's what's fascinating, is that the gutsends more signals to the brain than the brain
sends to the gut.
Meaning how you feel mentally can often betraced back to what's going on in your gut and
(07:08):
why it is truly your second brain.
Here's a quote from Nature Reviews Immunologyin 2020: Disruptions in gut microbiota are
associated with inflammatory and autoimmuneconditions.
So, let's get to the fun part.
Here's a fun fact that you may not know (07:26):
Your body has over 30,000,000,000,000 human cells,
but you carry an estimated 39,000,000,000,000bacterial cells.
In other words, you are more bacteria than evenhuman.
So another amazing thing you need to know aboutyour gut is the gut barrier.
(07:47):
The lining of the gut is only one cell layerthick, About the width of a human hair.
It's designed to be selectively permeable,letting in nutrients while keeping pathogens
and toxins out.
But when this lining is damaged due toinflammation, stress, poor diet, it becomes
leaky, allowing harmful substances to enteryour bloodstream, triggering inflammation and
(08:12):
autoimmune responses system wide.
We've discussed this in previous episodes, buthere's the takeaway.
If your gut is inflamed, your whole body isinflamed.
That's why gut health is starting the startingpoint for fixing everything else.
Energy, mood, hormones, immune function, skin,metabolism, everything lies, ties back to
(08:34):
health and the balance of your microbiome.
Yeah, man.
That's such a good overview of the gut.
And you know, now it's like, okay, now we knowwhat it is, right?
And listeners have an idea.
Now, how do we know if there's something wrong?
That's always the next question.
So let's get into like, how do you know if youhave some kind of gut issue or problem with
your gut?
(08:54):
And really it's going to be the symptoms.
So one of the most overlooked truths inmedicine is really that if your symptoms are
happening everywhere, you need to start withyour gut.
That's just what we talked about.
It's ground zero.
It's not just where food goes to get digestion.
It's ground zero for immune activity,inflammation control, nutrient absorption,
right?
When gut function breaks down, it's not justyour digestion that suffers, it's your brain,
(09:18):
your skin, your hormones, energy, they all takea hit.
So, let's talk about what are some of thecommon symptoms of gut dysfunction and what you
should be on the lookout for.
So, most people assume gut issues are going toequal things like gas, bloating, or IBS.
And while this is true, the signs also go muchdeeper and they can show up in places you
(09:40):
wouldn't expect.
So, some of the digestive symptoms that you'regoing to experience would be bloating,
belching, gas, constipation or diarrhea, andeven reflux.
However, deeper symptoms that could associatewith gut dysfunction that people might not
expect are things like cognitive and moodsymptoms.
So, brain fog and fatigue, poor memory, anxietyand depression.
(10:05):
Oftentimes skin symptoms are a big indicator ofgut dysfunction.
Things like acne, eczema, psoriasis or rosacea,which is basically red coloring.
And then immune and hormone dysregulation.
Things like Hashimoto's, rheumatoid arthritis,these are autoimmune conditions.
Infertility, weight gain, and PMS, these canall be linked back to the gut.
(10:28):
So the connection is when your gut is inflamed,your immune system becomes overactive leading
to systemic inflammation and autoimmune risk.
So now let's talk about the big four gutdysfunction patterns, what they are and then
how they show up.
So number one, and this is something we see alot in our clinic and we treat a lot of
patients for is leaky gut or intestinalpermeability, right?
(10:53):
And you just talked about how the gut lining isjust one cell layer thick.
It's very skinny and it allows for certainthings to come in and then other things to not
come in.
It's selectively permeable.
So normally your gut lining is a tightly sealedbarrier made of those epithelial cells linked
together by what are called tight junctions.
(11:13):
But when it gets inflamed, those tightjunctions can loosen creating microscopic holes
that now allow toxins, bacteria, and undigestedfood particles into the bloodstream.
This triggers activation of the immune systemand can lead to autoimmune conditions, things
like Hashimoto's, lupus, or rheumatoidarthritis.
(11:33):
It also can lead to brain inflammation, whichwill obviously manifest such as mood disorders
and anxiety.
And it can lead to worsening of foodsensitivities.
So as the body starts to mount responses tothose food particles, it's going to increase
those sensitivities as well.
Some of the more common triggers for this aregoing to be things like gluten, alcohol, non
(11:55):
steroidal anti inflammatories like ibuprofen.
Stress is a big one.
Processed foods and antibiotics.
So there was a study done in clinical reviewsin allergy and immunology in 2019, which
basically said increased intestinalpermeability is directly linked autoimmune
disease, IBS and chronic fatigue.
(12:18):
So basically proven that when you're havingthis intestinal permeability, are going be at
more risk for those things.
So the next one is SIBO, which stands for smallintestinal bacterial overgrowth.
So SIBO occurs when bacteria that should stayin the large intestine overgrows back into the
small intestine.
(12:38):
The small intestine is where nutrientabsorption takes place.
And so, what happens is those bacteria start toferment your food too early, which will often
look like gas and bloating, especially aftereating carbohydrates or fibers.
This can then lead to nutrient malabsorption.
Malabsorption of things like B12 and iron.
(12:59):
And so, if those are often low on blood workassociated with gut issues, we're thinking
things like SIBO.
This can also manifest like constipation ordiarrhea.
And then obviously intolerance to fiber andprebiotics because of that symptom associated
with digesting those things.
So, SIBO is often a hidden cause of IBS inabout seventy percent of cases.
(13:22):
And it's often overlooked because why?
Well, Western medicine doctors often don't evenrecognize it.
They don't consider it an actual thing.
And so, you know, it's already, that's theconfusing part is that it's shown to have been
proven as this is real.
People deal with this all the time.
This is something we help people with all thetime.
However, there's just this disconnect betweenWestern medicine and functional medicine.
(13:45):
And so next on the list here is Candidaovergrowth.
What Candida is, is a yeast that is naturallyexisting in the gut, but when it overgrows,
usually due to excess sugar intake orantibiotics or even low stomach acid, it's
going to cause you to crave sugar.
It's going to cause fatigue, brain fog, andthen you can even get this what's called oral
(14:06):
thrush or basically like a white coating onyour tongue and that's the yeast forming.
And so then this also can manifest likerecurring yeast infections.
So Candida can worsen leaky gut symptoms andthen it can down regulate your immune system as
well.
And then number four on this list is one that'smaybe more obscure, but also more common than
(14:27):
people think.
And this is parasite infections.
It's not just a third world problem anymore.
Parasites can easily be picked up from thingslike undercooked food, contaminated water, or
if you're traveling abroad.
But also from things that are close to homelike having pets in the home, right?
If the pets are outside in the dirt and they'reeating things and then they're not properly
(14:48):
cleaned that hygiene, right?
And so once inside the parasites can hijackyour nutrients and they can start to pre digest
food that your body should be digesting.
This can cause inflammation and it can damageyour gut lining as well.
Some major symptoms are going to look likechronic bloating and diarrhea, night sweats,
things like nutrient deficiencies, anemia andweight loss.
(15:12):
And then obviously persistent fatigue as well.
Like your body is trying to get the nutritionand energy it needs, but it can't because it's
being hijacked.
And so remember the mind body connection thatMatt just talked about.
When you have a disrupted gut microbiome, itcan alter the gut brain axis as well, which
contributes to those mood disorders.
Studies show that patients with depression,anxiety, chronic fatigue often have elevated
(15:37):
markers of leaky gut and inflammation in thebloodstream.
So essentially, inflammation in the gut isgoing to directly equal inflammation in the
brain.
The two go hand in hand.
So what's the takeaway here?
If you have symptoms that are scattered,fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, skin rashes,
hormonal imbalance, you don't want to gochasing each one of these individually with a
(15:59):
different thing, right?
People often just throw some cream on aneczema.
They start taking some SSRIs for anxiety anddepression.
But often they're linked to your gut.
So that's where you want to start.
So it's not just about what you eat, but it'sabout what you absorb and what your microbiome
then does with it.
So healing the gut will create a ripple effectthroughout the body.
(16:19):
And that's really our approach at AlessiFunctional Health is getting to the root cause.
So now let's do this.
Let's talk about what specific tests we can useto get to the bottom of your symptoms and then
ultimately heal them for good.
But real quick, before Matt gets into that,let's take a quick word from one of our
sponsors.
This episode of Health Decoded is brought toyou by Authentic Nutrition, the brand
(16:45):
redefining what it means to fuel your body theright way.
Authentic Nutrition, they believe that what youput into your body matters.
That's why every single product is crafted withclean, premium ingredients and dosed with
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Whether it's their advanced supplements forenergy, recovery, or gut health, you can trust
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health.
Authentic Nutrition, fuel your best self.
Now back to the episode.
And welcome back.
So here we go.
How to test your gut and stop all theguesswork.
You can't fix what you don't measure.
While symptoms give us clues, advanced guttesting gives us the actual blueprint of what's
(18:17):
going wrong inside your digestive system.
Without it, you're guessing, and guessing leadsto wasted time, money, and frustration.
Think of it like this (18:26):
If your car starts making some strange noises, would you guess
what's wrong?
Or plug it into a diagnostic system?
Or take it to a mechanic, right?
Let's break down the most accurate, functional,clinical, useful tests that provide real
answers, not just the labels.
One.
(18:48):
Comprehensive stool test.
This is the gold standard for analyzing yourentire digestive ecosystem.
A high quality test like the ones we use atAlessi Functional Health evaluate these
different factors.
Number one, bacterial balance, both good andharmful strains.
Opportunistic pathogens.
(19:11):
E.
Coli, cholesterol, three.
Yeast and fungal overgrowth Parasites Digestivecapacity Immune markers Inflammation markers So
(19:36):
what these tests tell us, whether yourmicrobiome is inflamed, if you're absorbing
nutrients, and if there's something foreigncausing damage like parasites or even yeast.
So here's a quote from Frontiers ofMicrobiology in 2021 that said, stool DNA tests
(19:58):
are a reliable method to evaluate microbiotadiversity and pathogenic overgrowth.
So here we go into a second test, zonulin orlactulose mannitol test, which is your leaky
gut panel.
And these are functional markers of intestinalpermeability.
(20:20):
So, as Doctor.
Alessi mentioned, that small, skinny, hair likefeature that is our gut, right?
So, zonulin is a protein that regulates tightjunctions in your gut lining.
Evaluating zonulin equals likely a leaky gut.
(20:41):
Lactulose mannitol test involves drinkingsugars and measuring their appearance and
urine.
If large sugars appear, your gut lining is tooporous.
These tests are essential if you have: Autoimmunity Food sensitivities Brain fog or (20:53):
undefined
fatigue after eating, and chronic joint pain orskin flares.
Here we go with another one and our third one,a food sensitivity testing.
(21:13):
So these panels, unlike true unlike true foodallergies, which are IgE responses, these tests
are look at delayed immune responses.
When your gut barrier is compromised, the foodproteins leak into your bloodstream and trigger
immune functions hours or even days later.
(21:35):
The most common reactive foods are number one,gluten, Number two, dairy.
Number three, eggs.
Number four, soy.
And number five, corn.
So here's a tip.
Elimination diets work but often take months orlonger, and this test can fast track what to
remove and for how long.
(21:57):
Here's another test, DUTCH or the organic acidtesting.
Well, not direct gut tests, but both can revealsecondary signs of gut dysfunction.
Organic acid test, also known as oat, showsyeast and fungal overgrowth bacterial
fermentation markers, and nutrient deficienciescaused by dysbiosis.
(22:19):
Your Dutch hormone test, the measurablecortisol, chronic stress weakens the gut
lining, and estrogen metabolism is gut healtheffects, estrogen clearance.
So you want those two to level out.
These are especially helpful if symptoms gobeyond digestion, like fatigue, hormonal
imbalance, or even mood changes if you'reseeing those.
(22:42):
And here's why all this matters, right?
So most people go years treating surfacesymptoms, gas, acne, fatigue with over the
counter meds or diets, never realizing theirmicrobiome imbalance at the root.
And a single round of antibiotics or chronicstress can disrupt your microbiome for months
(23:05):
or even years.
So testing allows you to do three things: identify which bacteria are missing or (23:07):
undefined
overgrown, see if you have leaky gut orinflammation, and then tailor your nutrition
and supplementation based on your biology.
So here's the takeaway.
Don't guess, test.
(23:28):
So whether it's SIBO, candida, parasites, orpermeability, gut dysfunction is measurable at
its core.
And it's fixable.
A simple 300 to $500 test may save youthousands of dollars in supplements, wasted
doctor visits, and years of trial and airdiets.
(23:48):
You can't heal what you can't see.
So testing gives you the roadmap and not justthe symptom list.
Nice, man.
Yeah.
And that's you basically just named kind ofwhat we do as far as testing in in the clinic
at Alessi Functional Health.
We often start with symptoms.
Okay, what are the symptoms that'll tailor ustowards what tests we're going to use?
(24:09):
And then usually it looks like starting withthe leaky gut and food sensitivity test, those
are the first two most people are going to do.
And then if there's more in-depth, then yes,we'll run a gut gut stool test.
And then on the back end of that, if we needto, if there's more of the hormonal factor,
we'll run the Dutch or the OAT test.
So we have all these different things at ourdisposal, like you said, to really test it
(24:31):
rather than like, I'm going try a bunch ofstuff and see if it works.
I'm going try a bunch of stuff and see if itworks.
And then you're years down the line and nothinghas changed.
It's like, no, let's just get to the bottom ofit right away.
It's quick, it's easy, and now we know.
And so now we know what to look for, what wecan do to test for.
Now let's talk about how we fix it, right?
How do we heal the gut?
(24:52):
And so, basically I'm going take you guysthrough kind of our protocol.
But the thing to know is that the gut can heal,it just takes a plan, not just the guesswork.
And so the most effective functional medicineapproach to restoring gut health is really what
we use called the five R protocol.
And so this is a clinically proven framework.
It's helped thousands of patients overcomeeverything from IBS to autoimmune conditions,
(25:17):
chronic fatigue.
And basically think of it as like a systematicgut renovation.
Tearing down the bad, rebuilding the good, andthen stabilizing for long term.
And so what the five R gut protocol looks like,this is the exact protocol we use at Alessi
Functional Health to help hundreds of peoplerestore their gut to health.
So number one, the first R is remove.
(25:40):
So here's where you have to eliminate what'sdamaging your gut in the first place.
Things like inflammatory foods, gluten, dairy,processed sugars, seed oils, artificial
sweeteners, any foods that would have beenelevated IGE or IGG on a food sensitivity test.
Things like pathogens, bacteria, parasites,yeast and mold, all identified through testing.
(26:04):
We need to remove these.
And then a non negotiable with any patient wework with is removing alcohol and then
obviously those over the counter NSAID drugs.
As well as helping them to avoid certainenvironmental toxins that maybe they're putting
on their body through skin creams or in theirhome.
So, you can start with like a thirty dayelimination diet, cutting out those common
(26:27):
triggers, watching for your symptomimprovements like less bloating, clear skin,
better sleep, reduced joint pain.
And kind of a tip to that is making sure you'rereading labels, right?
Gluten and sugar are hiding everywhere.
In condiments, in healthy bars, protein bars.
These companies want to sneak these things inthere because they're cheaper and they can
(26:47):
increase the value of that product, but it'sultimately not healthy even if it says healthy
on on the label.
So then the second R in the five R's is to nowreplace.
So now you're going to start supporting yourdigestive capacity.
So if you're bloated after meals and haveundigested food in your stool or you feel full
real quickly, you may not be producing enoughstomach acid or digestive enzymes.
(27:11):
This is often where we start with the supportof the digestion.
We use things like HCL, which is a crucialstomach acid for protein breakdown and killing
pathogens.
Support with digestive enzymes to help absorbthe fats, carbs and proteins that you eat.
As well as things like bile salts to supportthat fat digestion as well as detox through the
(27:33):
gallbladder.
And so some symptoms of low stomach acid arethings like burping or bloating after meals,
acid reflux, and then craving protein.
Now, what we often see and what I see a ton issomeone presents with reflux to their primary
care doc or their medical doc, and the doc putsthem on like a proton pump inhibitor or like a
(27:56):
Nexium to lower the acid when the problem isnot low acid or the problem is not high acid,
it's low acid.
And they're getting those symptoms because thefood is not being broken down and it's starting
to ferment and sit in the stomach before goinginto the small intestine and that's causing a
reflux, that's causing inflammation.
So then they go throwing a proton pumpinhibitor on top of that and actually worsens
(28:19):
the problem and starts to make the person verysick.
And so usually someone comes in with that, Isay, okay, we're going to stop the proton pump
inhibitor for a week.
We're going to do what's called a baking sodatest.
Very simple free test you can do at home.
You take a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, youput it in four ounces of water, first thing in
the morning empty stomach and you drink it.
(28:39):
You should burp within two to three minutes.
Now, if you don't, that means you have lowstomach acid and you're not getting that
bicarbonate reaction that causes gas.
So that's an easy test and it's free and we dothat for pretty much everyone who is on a
proton pump inhibitor.
And so then what's our number three, right?
(29:01):
We went through remove, replace.
Now we need to re inoculate the gut.
So we're going to start restoring healthybacteria.
So once the gut has been cleaned out, there'ssome fasting involved in this protocol as well
to give the gut time to heal.
It's time to now repopulate the beneficialmicrobes.
So we're going to use things like probiotics,obviously high colony multi strains,
(29:23):
lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, these are theones that we use to re inoculate the gut.
And then if we did a gut test and we foundthere was a exorbitantly low in one area, we're
going to obviously pump that up.
And then we're going to use things likeprebiotics as well to feed those probiotics.
Fibers like inulin, oligosaccharides, andresistant starch, they're going to feed this
(29:45):
good bacteria.
And then, you know, using foods as well.
We're all about functional foods like fermentedveggies, kefir, and then, you know, like
artichoke and green banana.
Obviously, we would avoid the yogurt if someoneis dairy intolerant.
And so just real quick, kind of to the point,there's targeted probiotics are going to reduce
(30:05):
leaky gut and systemic inflammation in justfour weeks.
This has been proven in the journal GutMicrobes in 2022.
And so we always start slow with the probioticsand prebiotics.
Some people need to obviously address SIBO orCandida before they really start reinoculating
aggressively or else you're just going torefeed that whole process.
(30:27):
And so now number four is repair.
So now that we've got it healed andreinoculated, we're going to rebuild the gut
lining, right?
If you have that leaky gut and that damaged gutlining, we can use certain things like L
glutamine, which is basically gonna fuel thoseenterocytes, which are the gut cells.
Zinc carnosine heals ulcers and tightens thosejunctions.
(30:49):
Collagen and bone broth are rich in glycine andproline, which is used for tissue repair.
And then things like aloe vera and deglycinatedlicorice are going to basically soothe
inflammation, but they can also increase themucosal lining of the gut.
So here's a tip is drinking warm bone brothdaily or taking collagen peptides in smoothies,
(31:09):
right?
Those are easy ways to get those in.
And then the biggest thing is still avoidingalcohol, the NSAIDs which break down and then
processed junk food, which this breaks down thegut lining faster than you can repair it.
Right?
So you're not going to go trying to put out afire and then be fueling a fire here.
Right?
Makes no sense.
And then so the fifth r and the final one isrebalance.
(31:31):
Right?
So we align the lifestyle with the gut healing.
Your gut doesn't heal in isolation.
Your nervous system, your circadian rhythm,these all play a huge role.
So chronic stress and that elevated cortisolwill just return that leaky gut because it's
going to keep breaking things down.
So, we always incorporate lifestyle medicineinto our functional medicine practices.
(31:54):
Rebalancing practices look like daily breathwork and meditation, five to ten minutes a day.
Making sure you're going to bed and waking upat consistent times, balancing that circadian
rhythm.
Sunlight in the morning, reducing blue light.
And then regular moderate exercise, the zonetwo cardio that Matt always talks about is how
you're going to really get your body into acalmed balanced nervous system state.
(32:18):
And then strength training as well.
And so sleep is really non negotiable whenworking with gut dysfunction because deep sleep
is when those gut lining repairs and bacterialrebalancing happens most.
So real quick, just some supplements toconsider.
L glutamine for repairing the gut lining, zinccarnosine healing and soothing the
(32:40):
inflammation, a probiotic recolonizesbeneficial bacteria, and then the enzymes for
supporting nutrient absorption.
So, we always like to give some real practicaltips that we want to leave you guys with.
So, the things you can implement today andstart with would be things like cutting gluten,
dairy, and sugar, and alcohol for thirty days.
(33:01):
And see how much better you feel, right?
That will tell you if there's something goingon.
Adding fermented foods three to four times aweek.
Caveat here is if that makes you feel worse,more than likely a SIBO kind of overgrowth.
Bone broth or collagen powder in smoothies.
Supporting sleep and stress management.
And then professional grade probiotics withhigh colony counts, 20 to 50,000,000,000.
(33:26):
And so the takeaway, right?
You can heal your gut, but not with halfmeasures.
It's not just about taking a probiotic, it'sabout consistently layering in the right foods,
supplements, and habits, but in a strategicorder.
The five R's are the blueprint to rebuild thegut, and then in turn, rebuild your brain
immunity, energy and overall health.
(33:48):
When you do it correctly and in the properorder, this can be a permanent solution.
That being said, this is a complicated strategyand often difficult for people to implement on
their own without guidance.
So, we always suggest working with a qualifiedfunctional medicine doctor who has experience
with treating gut issues.
So, we want to thank you guys for joining us.
(34:09):
We hope this was valuable.
If you want to learn more about functionalmedicine and the programs that can help you
improve the health of your gut, go toalessifunctionalhealth.com, schedule a
consultation with myself or one of my teammembers, and let's create a personalized plan
for your gut health.
Listeners of the Health Decoded podcast alwaysget exclusive discounts and price reductions on
(34:32):
all of our protocols and our lab tests.
And as always, if you found today's show,please, please like, subscribe, and share this
episode with someone who needs to hear it.
That's how we grow this message and change morelives.
So and wanna get in touch with us or befeatured on an episode, email us at
ask@AlessiFXHealth.com.
(34:53):
And then as always, as doctor Alessi said, youcan visit us at AlessiFXHealth.com, sign up for
a newsletter, and check resource pages to learnmore about our approach to nutrition and
cutting edge therapies.
Thank you again for tuning in to HealthDecoded, where we are breaking down the
science, busting the myths, and helping youtake control of your health naturally.
(35:15):
Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered,and remember your health is in your hands.
Thank you for tuning in to Health Decoded,where we break down the truth about all things
health and empower you to take charge of yourwell-being.
If you found value in today's episode, pleasesubscribe, leave a review, and share it with
(35:36):
someone who needs to hear this.
For more resources and personalized support,visit us at AlessiFunctionalHealth.com and sign
up for our newsletter.
To hear your questions answered live on theshow, send them to ask@AlessiFXHealth.com.
That's ask@alessifxhealth.com.
(35:57):
Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered,and remember, your health is in your hands.
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